PAULS VALLEY, OK - They’re not toying with your affections in Pauls Valley. Well, actually, they are, but that’s entirely appropriate for the exciting celebration of the first anniversary of the world’s only Toy and Action Figure Museum (TAFM) and the Oklahoma Cartoonist's Collection it houses. More than 15,000 tourists already have visited the museum chosen as the 2006 Outstanding New Tourist Attraction by the Oklahoma Tourism Department.

The celebration begins on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and continues from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15, with free admission on both days. There will be toy give-aways every hour, some by several Pauls Valley merchants, and many Oklahoma cartoonists will be autographing their work. Those attending at this time include Jack and Carole Bender, who produce the comic strip "Alley Oop," and writers Michael Vance and R. A. Jones, who have worked for more than a dozen comics publishers. More are expected.

The museum has been featured in dozens of newspaper and magazine articles and on television across the state, and the Oklahoma Centennial Commission has chosen it as an official Oklahoma Centennial Exhibit. And if 10,000 action figures and toys, comic books, Sunday comic strips, original comic book and strip art, and more, aren’t enough to bring out the kid in you, how about dinner!

TAFM will also host a fund-raising dinner from 7-9 p.m. at the museum including a presentation of an overview of the museum’s first year, and a look at future plans. David Toth, the museum’s manager, will present an award to the volunteer of the year. Other ceremonies will include the induction of two new toy-lines into the Action Figure Hall of Fame and Vance's induction of six Oklahomans into the Oklahoma Cartoonist's Hall of Fame. Here's a brief bio of the inductees:

• Cheater Gould was born in Pawnee. He produced his first professional work for a Tulsa newspaper. He is the creator of "Dick Tracy," one of the most popular comic strips in history that currently is celebrating its 75th birthday. Gould was awarded the Reuben Award, the highest honor possible from his peers.

• Bill Mauldin was the best know cartoonist on earth during World War II. His first cartoons were published in the Daily Oklahoman and were republished in hard and soft cover books after the war. He joined the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 1958 as their editorial cartoonist and won two Pulitzer Prizes during his illustrious career.

• R.A. Jones of Tulsa has created many of his own characters for comic books, including Scimidar, The Protectors, and Dark Wolf. He has also written extensively for many major comics publishers including Marvel and DC Comics on titles including Bulletproof Monk, Wolverine/Captain American: The Contingency, Metal Hurlant and Weapon X. First establishing himself as a popular reviewer, Jones has written a column for a Tulsa newspaper, and co-authored a book on the history of comics with Vance.

• Clarence Allen was one of the earliest editorial cartoonists in Oklahoma. His work was published in the Tulsa World and Tulsa Tribune where he served as an artist, art director, and editorial cartoonist. Allen also illustrated a book by Houdini, worked on Mutt and Jeff animated cartoons, as an extra in movies, and created posters for Columbia Pictures. He created architectural designs, Christmas cards for movie stars, published several books, and painted many murals around Tulsa. Allen won 10 Freedom Foundation awards during his long career.

• Dick Locher, an artist, is an Oklahoma Cartoonist's Collection Associate because of his work with Chester Gould. He has drawn Dick Tracy since 1983, and is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer and artist whose editorial cartoons are published in the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in hundreds of newspapers worldwide, and in many magazines including Time, Life, and Newsweek. Locher also won a Reuben award from the National Cartoonist's Association.

• Ric Estrada is an Oklahoma Cartoonist's Collection Associate because of his work with Oklahoma writer E. Nelson Bridwell for Creepy. He has drawn everything from ‘50s war comics to Wonder Woman during his amazing career. With comics' legend and Oklahoma associate Wally Wood, Estrada helped revive the historically important All-Star Comics title that originated superhero teams, drew Batman and Superman, and worked on He-Man cartoons in the 1980s.

Space for the dinner is limited. The deadline for making reservations is Thursday, Oct. 12. Reservations for dinner may be made by calling the museum at (405) 238-6300. The Toy and Action Figure Museum is located at 111 S. Chickasaw in Pauls Valley. From Joplin the location is about 270 miles.

DIRECTIONS: Take I-44 W toward TULSA; Keep LEFT to take I-35 S via EXIT 133 toward OKLA. CITY; take the OK-19 exit- EXIT 72- toward PAULS VALLEY / MAYSVILLE; take the ramp toward PAULS VALLEY / ADA / E. CENTRAL UNIV.; turn LEFT onto OK-19; turn RIGHT onto US-77 / N ASH ST.; turn LEFT onto US-77 / W PAUL AVE.; turn RIGHT onto US-77 / S CHICKASAW ST.

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